In the Wild

June 2, 2003
Aragonés's blundering barbarian has been creating mirth and defining mulch (one of Groo's
many running gags) for nearly 20 years, but the humor remains as sharp as ever. Aragonés, best known for his work in Mad, has created a classic comic character. In this episode, it looks like Groo the Wanderer has reformed. After happening on a village while collecting a "Groo tax" for protection against the barbarian, Groo decides perhaps it is better to be liked than feared, and makes a vow to slay no more. His long-suffering canine companion, Rufferto, is horrified by the news, as is the local mortician. What happens next recalls, in gloriously twisted fashion, the films Yojimbo
and A Fistful of Dollars. However, where those movies rely on a savvy drifter playing various factions off each other until none are left standing, Groo
has only Groo, a hapless hack-and-slasher whose sudden conversion to nonviolence inadvertently triggers a multi-front war. Aragonés's art is terrific; his basic style is simple and cartoonish, propelling the story forward while never getting in the way of a good gag. At the same time, he doesn't skimp on detail; his vivid crowd scenes contain dozens of subtle jokes. Longtime collaborator Evanier's script saunters through delightful style changes, from minstrel rhymes to sage proverbs to Groo's ever-fascinating thought processes. Aragonés and Evanier have written a satire that is both timely and funny.

February 9, 2009
Aragones's dimwitted barbarian, Groo, has been comically messing up for nearly 30 years, and he hasn't learned a thing in all that time. This new adventure finds Groo and his loyal dog, Rufferto, facing war, global warming and the general ineptness of politicians. Aragones molds these serious themes into a sardonic commentary. The setting is an undefined time resembling the Middle Ages, and pollution from weapons' factories leads to the threat of climate change as well as imminent war. Groo falls through a factory ceiling, creating a makeshift chimney that releases the pollution, which eventually drifts to the neighboring kingdom, alerting them to the increase in weapons production, setting off an even larger war. The story switches between Groo, haphazardly commanding an army in search of the enemy, and the Sage, Groo's intellectual friend, traversing the world to persuade people of the dangers of climate change. Similar setups lead to some repetitiveness and a flagging story, but Aragones's distorted, comical character designs and signature background details keep the tale engaging.